1996–97 Wrexham F.C. season

Wrexham
1996–97 season
ChairmanPryce Griffiths
ManagerBrian Flynn
StadiumRacecourse Ground
Second Division8th
FA CupQuarter finals
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Connolly (14)
All: Connolly (15)
Average home league attendance4,112

During the 1996–97 English football season, Wrexham F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Wrexham set off on another amazing run in the FA Cup and beating more top flight opposition. Following wins at Colwyn Bay and Scunthorpe United, they were drawn to play West Ham United at home, the game ending in a 1–1 draw on a snow-covered pitch after a well earned draw. The replay at Upton Park ended in a shock 1–0 win to Wrexham as Kevin Russell scored in the dying minutes to send Wrexham into the fourth round.[1] After also beating Peterborough United and Birmingham City in the following rounds, they played Chesterfield in an all-Division-2 FA Cup quarter final, Wrexham narrowly losing to the Spireites 1–0.

The league campaign began very brightly for Wrexham as they lost only one from their first 17 league matches and were in the play-off places heading to Christmas but then a little decline in form with only seven wins in the second half of the campaign wasn't enough for a play-off position and finished 4 points off the top six.

Final league table

Main article: 1996–97 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
6 Crewe Alexandra (O, P) 46 22 7 17 56 47 +9 73 Qualification for the Second Division play-offs
7 Blackpool 46 18 15 13 60 47 +13 69
8 Wrexham 46 17 18 11 55 50 +5 69
9 Burnley 46 19 11 16 71 55 +16 68
10 Chesterfield 46 18 14 14 42 39 +3 68
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Results

Wrexham's score comes first[3]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1996 Millwall A 1–1 9,371 Watkin
24 August 1996 Plymouth Argyle H 4–4 3,920 Phillips (2), Connolly (2)
7 September 1996 Peterborough United H 1–1 3,222 Connolly
10 September 1996 Stockport County A 2–0 4,244 Watkin, Skinner
14 September 1996 Crewe Alexandra A 1–3 4,469 Ward
17 September 1996 Bristol Rovers H 1–0 2,401 Cross
21 September 1996 Preston North End H 1–0 5,299 Phillips
24 September 1996 Walsall A 1–0 2,832 Cross
28 September 1996 Notts County A 0–0 4,216
8 October 1996 Shrewsbury Town H 2–1 5,031 Watkin, Brace
12 October 1996 Watford A 1–1 8,441 Humes
15 October 1996 Blackpool A 3–3 4,014 Brammer, Phillips, Chalk (pen)
19 October 1996 Bournemouth H 2–0 3,945 Skinner, Connolly
26 October 1996 Wycombe Wanderers A 0–0 5,548
29 October 1996 Bury H 1–1 3,895 Hughes
2 November 1996 Chesterfield H 3–2 4,160 Connolly, Morris, Owen
9 November 1996 Gillingham A 2–1 5,094 Morris, Connolly
23 November 1996 Brentford A 0–2 4,885
30 November 1996 Wycombe Wanderers H 1–0 3,280 Skinner
3 December 1996 Burnley A 0–2 8,587
14 December 1996 York City A 0–1 2,600
21 December 1996 Bristol City H 2–1 4,488 Watkin (pen), Hughes
26 December 1996 Stockport County H 2–3 6,736 Watkin, Morris
11 January 1997 Notts County H 3–3 3,267 Connolly (2), Watkin
18 January 1997 Luton Town A 0–0 5,734
1 February 1997 Gillingham H 1–1 3,193 Connolly
8 February 1997 Chesterfield A 0–0 6,738
11 February 1997 Peterborough United A 1–0 2,975 Hughes
22 February 1997 Rotherham United A 0–0 2,539
25 February 1997 Bury A 0–0 3,419
1 March 1997 Burnley H 0–0 6,947
12 March 1997 Luton Town H 2–1 3,342 Bennett (2, 1 pen)
15 March 1997 York City H 0–0 3,874
18 March 1997 Preston North End A 1–2 8,271 Bennett
22 March 1997 Plymouth Argyle A 1–0 5,468 Humes
25 March 1997 Brentford H 0–2 4,053
28 March 1997 Millwall H 3–3 4,684 Humes, Phillips, Bennett
31 March 1997 Bristol Rovers A 0–2 6,225
5 April 1997 Walsall H 1–2 3,266 Connolly (pen)
8 April 1997 Rotherham United H 1–0 2,002 Connolly
12 April 1997 Shrewsbury Town A 1–0 4,553 Bennett
15 April 1997 Bristol City A 1–2 9,817 Morris
19 April 1997 York City H 2–1 6,654 Bennett, Angell
22 April 1997 Crewe Alexandra H 1–1 4,643 McGregor
26 April 1997 Bournemouth A 1–2 4,805 Connolly
3 May 1997 Blackpool H 2–1 5,664 Watkin, Humes

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 16 November 1996 Colwyn Bay A 1–1 4,679 Hughes
R1R 26 November 1996 Colwyn Bay H 2–0 4,106 Hughes (2)
R2 7 December 1996 Scunthorpe United H 2–2 3,780 Morris, Watkin
R2R 17 December 1996 Scunthorpe United A 3–2 (a.e.t.) 3,976 Hughes, Morris, Watkin (pen)
R3 15 January 1997 West Ham United H 1–1 9,747 Hughes
R3R 25 January 1997 West Ham United A 1–0 16,763 Russell
R4 4 February 1997 Peterborough United A 4–2 8,734 Ward, Watkin, Russell (2)
R5 15 February 1997 Birmingham City A 3–1 21,511 Hughes, Humes, Connolly
QF 9 March 1997 Chesterfield A 0–1 8,735

League Cup

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Huddersfield Town A 0–3 5,178
R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Huddersfield Town H 1–2 (lost 1–5 on agg) 1,776 Skinner

Football League Trophy

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
NR2 28 January 1997 Crewe Alexandra H 0–1 2,216

Squad

[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Mark Cartwright
— GK Wales WAL Andy Marriott
— DF Wales WAL Deryn Brace
— DF Republic of Ireland IRL Brian Carey
— DF England ENG Jonathan Cross
— DF Republic of Ireland IRL Phil Hardy
— DF England ENG Tony Humes
— DF England ENG Barry Jones
— DF England ENG Paul Jones
— DF England ENG Mark McGregor
— DF England ENG David Ridler
— DF England ENG Jason Soloman
— DF England ENG Andy Thomas
— DF Wales WAL Scott Williams
— MF England ENG Dave Brammer
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Martyn Chalk
— MF England ENG Bryan Hughes
— MF Wales WAL Gareth Owen
— MF Wales WAL Wayne Phillips
— MF England ENG Craig Skinner
— MF England ENG Neil Wainwright
— MF England ENG Peter Ward
— FW England ENG Gary Bennett
— FW England ENG Karl Connolly
— FW Wales WAL Lee Jones
— FW England ENG Steve Morris
— FW Wales WAL Paul Roberts
— FW England ENG Kevin Russell
— FW Wales WAL Steve Watkin

References

  1. ^ Pierson, Mark (27 January 1997). "West Ham fear FA censure over pitch invasion". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  2. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. ^ "Wrexham results for the 1996-1997 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Wrexham FC Player Appearances | Past & Present | Soccer Base".